New cheap, thin material would bring night vision to our gadgets

Adopting the regular OLED technology used in displays, a DARPA funded research at the University of Florida has created a thin-film that ably converts infrared signal into visible light. This is a cheap and lightweight alterative providing night vision to gadgets, cameras, eyeglasses, car windscreens and virtually everything. An all new approach to the conventional night vision technology, this few microns thick film night vision technique employees seven layers of energy-efficient OLEDs to convert infrared light to the visible spectrum. As the light passes through the layers, electricity charges are created which amplify with each new layer turning the darkness into light. At present the concept of the technology is only about one square centimeter which would be scaled up to the size of a car’s windshield in about 18 months, the researchers say.

night vision material

Via: DiscoveryNews/PopSci